WBO heavyweight champ Shannon Briggs (48-4-1, 42 KOs) is not a happy camper. He tells the New Jersey Star-Ledger that he's upset over comments made by Sultan Inbragimov's promoter, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing, and promises to knock Ibragimov's (20-0-1, 17 KOs) head off his shoulders when they collide on June 2 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Briggs was initially slated to face Ibragimov in March, but he caught a bad case of pneumonia and was forced to postpone the fight. Warriors Boxing maintained the position that Briggs pulled out because of fear, and not illness. An accusation that burns Briggs up.

"Warriors put out rumors that I was a coward; that I pulled out of the fight because I was afraid to fight this kid. But this kid's had only 21 fights; I've had 53 fights, 29 first-round knockouts," Briggs said. "I've fought George Foreman, Lennox Lewis and Frans Botha. I beat Sergei Liakhovich for the WBO title, and he was supposed to be one of the best heavyweight champions.

"This fight is personal. It's rare that I'm in the situation I'm in. Leon Margules and Warriors, the way they've treated me as champion, they offered me coach seating to go to the fight. The treatment I've received is ridiculous. ... I'm going to punish (Ibragimov). I'm a vicious puncher. When I touch this little kid on June 2, he's going to wish he'd never touched gloves a day in his life."

"I'm going to knock this kid's head off and hope it falls in Leon's lap at ringside. This is very personal."